The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Peter Ekweozor, a suspected internet fraudster, for failing to appear in court for his arraignment.
The presiding judge, Oluwatoyin Abike-Fadipe, issued the warrant after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) moved an ex-parte motion to that effect.
Ekweozor was arrested by the EFCC alongside four accomplices on May 13, 2024, during an enforcement raid at a facility identified as Indy-Pool Hotel, located on Idowu Street in Olodi Apapa.
The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Ayanfe Ogunsina, told the court that investigations revealed the defendant had created fake Facebook and Instagram accounts, posing as a female porn star from Atlanta, USA, to defraud unsuspecting internet users.
Ogunsina added that during the investigation, the defendant was granted administrative bail and was directed to report periodically to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
However, the prosecutor said the defendant failed to report as required and had since been at large.
He informed the court that the investigation was now complete and formal charges had been filed against Ekweozor, but all attempts to re-arrest him had been unsuccessful after he jumped bail.
According to Ogunsina, “Efforts to reach the two individuals who stood as sureties for him have also been futile, as they have absconded. My Lord, the defendant knows a charge has been filed against him, and he is on the run to evade arraignment and trial.”
In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted the EFCC’s request to re-arrest Ekweozor and adjourned the matter to June 18 for further proceeding
